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Poppy McGuire Mysteries #1
The Eleventh Hour
The first book in the Poppy McGuire Mystery Series!
Poppy McGuire has always been a curious soul, but it's her life that's usually the topic of conversation in the small town of Sunset Ridge. But now one of the town's most important citizens has been found murdered, and everyone's life is suspect.
What begins as a friendly wager with her old friend Officer Derek Hampton soon becomes far more for Poppy, and she turns to Alex Montero for help, but the enigmatic former Baltimore cop's quiet way hides as many secrets as each suspect they encounter.
Everyone in Sunset Ridge has something to hide, but Poppy and Alex are determined to uncover the identity of the murderer. They just have to watch that they don't become the next victims.
Look for the rest of the Poppy McGuire series too!
After Hours (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #2)
Top of the Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #3)
The Darkest Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #4)
Happy Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #5)
Poppy McGuire has always been a curious soul, but it's her life that's usually the topic of conversation in the small town of Sunset Ridge. But now one of the town's most important citizens has been found murdered, and everyone's life is suspect.
What begins as a friendly wager with her old friend Officer Derek Hampton soon becomes far more for Poppy, and she turns to Alex Montero for help, but the enigmatic former Baltimore cop's quiet way hides as many secrets as each suspect they encounter.
Everyone in Sunset Ridge has something to hide, but Poppy and Alex are determined to uncover the identity of the murderer. They just have to watch that they don't become the next victims.
Look for the rest of the Poppy McGuire series too!
After Hours (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #2)
Top of the Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #3)
The Darkest Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #4)
Happy Hour (Poppy McGuire Mysteries #5)
238 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2016
2559 people are currently reading
3207 people want to read
About the author
Anina Collins
16 books160 followersAnina Collins has always loved a good mystery. As a child, her favorite books were Nancy Drew books passed down from her grandmother, and as she grew up, she moved on to Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and their famous detectives. She currently lives in North Carolina and writes her Poppy McGuire Mystery series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
August 11, 2020
Wow, this book is so bad!!! I feel bad to say this but besides it being 100% predictable from the start and everything that happens throughout you've seen in every B rated mystery, it is so badly written. From the editing, to the "character development", to the story, to the absolute ridiculousness of the entire thing.... Where should I start? The editing... Did anyone actually edit this novel? There are so many stupid mistakes and typos it's as though it never made it to editing and went straight to print. Here are just a few examples because there are too many to list: "Maybe it a ring?" instead of it was or it is; "Mrs. Joseph Scanlon, whose first name I had never..." and in the next sentence uses the wrong name "Married to James Scanlon for nearly forty years"...Really what happened to Mrs. Joseph..? Next: "but then what she’d said about the former mayor hit me light a bolt of lightning". Errr, don't you mean LIKE a bolt of lightning? Then: "I like this look on your, Poppy" instead of on you, Poppy. Then: "Everyone texts and emails anymore" - um what? "I saw the same handwriting on note right on his desk" errr on a note or the note. OK you get the point right? RIDICULOUS! As for the story, it sounded like a plot geared more towards little kids. Poppy is truly the most annoying character that has ever appeared in a novel. The idea is for her to come across as intelligent and ambitious but she is actually not intelligent and is simply foolish and whiney. There were so many pointless dialogues between her and her father, her and her friend, Bethany, which I guess was to create some character development but it was beyond pointless and so irrelevant. There is a part where the dialogue between I think her and Bethany is literally a summary of what occurred in a previous portion of the book. It could have been easily summer up "I explained to Bethany everything that happened bla bla bla". Poppy's idiotic tantrums of wahhh everyone has an opinion of me in a small town or wahhh how dare the detective tell me it was safer for me not to come along to a murder investigation down to the scene with the murderer where she literally said to stop bashing women and was upset that the town would believe a reputable detective over her idiot self while a gun is pointed at them, were so absolutely stupid. I mean, really, so ridiculous. Oh yea and how about her letting the murderer into the house because oh, she couldn't recognize the voice from someone else. Wow! Oh wait, let's not forget just how amazing Alex's eyes are. You know how you know this? Because it's mentioned a thousand times in the novel which makes it truly sound like a teenager is the main character and this book was written for or by a teenager...his dreamy brown eyes, his deep brown eyes, those big brown eyes, those mysterious brown eyes, his amazing brown eyes.. OMG....I don't think I've ever hated a character so much in a novel as I did Poppy. All her little outbursts when Alex is trying to do his job as an actual investigator make Poppy appear as a weak, whiney, erratic child, instead of an intelligent, focused, woman with good instincts as she allegedly was to have. Man, I can go on and on but I never want to think of this book again. I only finished it to satisfy one of the last prompts on my reading challenge list. I don't think this is considered a YA series from what I could find but if this is geared towards adults and adults actually like this then I have to assume there is a certain audience for this type of novel and I definitely am not it. Glad other people are able to get passed the poor writing and like it.
November 27, 2021
This is a 4.5 star read.
Wow! That was a great "cosy" mystery. I'd definitely be up for reading more in the series. 😊
Wow! That was a great "cosy" mystery. I'd definitely be up for reading more in the series. 😊
March 13, 2019
I am usually willing to give the debut books in a series a bit of time and room until the author finds his or her stride, but this was just painful to read. The author has created a town of fools so Poppy, the main character, seems smart by contrast. I took note of the publisher as I think a good editor could have improved the quality of the writing, and I will not be purchasing from this publisher again.
July 28, 2020
I have always loved mysteries. I must have been a detective in my past life (I wish!) But in this life, I totally sucked at it. I love to discover mystery books. It keeps my mind busy with all the clues and whodunnit. I found this series by chance and I am so glad I did.
It has been years since there's a murder in Sunset Ridge. But one day, a woman has been found strangled in her own home. The police thought it's just a robbery gone wrong but Poppy Mcguire thinks differently.
I really like Poppy and her relationship with her dad. But mainly Poppy's character. So, on to the next book.
It has been years since there's a murder in Sunset Ridge. But one day, a woman has been found strangled in her own home. The police thought it's just a robbery gone wrong but Poppy Mcguire thinks differently.
I really like Poppy and her relationship with her dad. But mainly Poppy's character. So, on to the next book.
November 20, 2020
2 and a half stars for this first in series.
I felt confused as I started this book. It felt like it was second in series, not first in series. Even with character development going on, I felt like there were things I needed or should know, but didn't.
One of the town's rich ladies has been found strangled. Police surmise it was a robbery gone bad, but Poppy doesn't believe it. The police allow her to investigate. Along the way, she teams up with Alex, a retired Baltimore cop, and together they investigate, keeping the police informed.
So aside from the premise of the police allowing her to investigate, it felt like the town folk were painted as buffoons. Alex pulls a gun on Poppy at one point. Never explained his anger issue, why he pulled the gun, and then later why he was so listless. Seems to me he has a serious depression issue. And Poppy is so fixated on one single suspect.
The ending was really silly, I won't say why because of spoilers, but needless to say, not happening in real life. Won't continue the series. I gave it an extra half star because it was a good try.
I felt confused as I started this book. It felt like it was second in series, not first in series. Even with character development going on, I felt like there were things I needed or should know, but didn't.
One of the town's rich ladies has been found strangled. Police surmise it was a robbery gone bad, but Poppy doesn't believe it. The police allow her to investigate. Along the way, she teams up with Alex, a retired Baltimore cop, and together they investigate, keeping the police informed.
So aside from the premise of the police allowing her to investigate, it felt like the town folk were painted as buffoons. Alex pulls a gun on Poppy at one point. Never explained his anger issue, why he pulled the gun, and then later why he was so listless. Seems to me he has a serious depression issue. And Poppy is so fixated on one single suspect.
The ending was really silly, I won't say why because of spoilers, but needless to say, not happening in real life. Won't continue the series. I gave it an extra half star because it was a good try.
February 20, 2021
At least it was free. I wanted to like Poppy and Alex. I really did. I wanted to like Derek. I wanted to like Poppy's dad. Somehow, they all just felt off to me. Maybe the fact that I had to try so hard to like them?
I had some serious issues with this book. I'm confused about this whole "partnership" that Poppy has with Alex. She's not a detective. She's not a police officer. She's not even a meter maid on the force. She's a reporter who writes a society column for a small town paper! That she kept calling herself a detective and talking about how this was her first case was insane. That her father would be OK with her putting herself in danger because "it's just like her mother who was also curious" made me roll my eyes.
I didn't feel any connection between Poppy and Alex. I thought the book had promise till Alex was introduced. He came off as boorish, rude, depressed, and with severe anger issues. After he was introduced, Poppy became this immature and shrewish woman who kept doing things that planted her firmly in the too-stupid-to-live category. She had more of a connection with Derek than Alex. Too bad the author went out of her way to pain Derek as some sort of idiot.
From the descriptions, Poppy acting like a detective on the force and Alex's partner continues throughout this series. We are expected to suspend belief when it comes to cozy mysteries and the characters sticking their noses where they don't belong. It's the author's job to make this so interesting that we are willing to believe it. This author failed to do that. In no universe will I ever be able to accept a character calling herself a detective on a case when she's neither of those things.
I won't be reading any more books in this series.
I had some serious issues with this book. I'm confused about this whole "partnership" that Poppy has with Alex. She's not a detective. She's not a police officer. She's not even a meter maid on the force. She's a reporter who writes a society column for a small town paper! That she kept calling herself a detective and talking about how this was her first case was insane. That her father would be OK with her putting herself in danger because "it's just like her mother who was also curious" made me roll my eyes.
I didn't feel any connection between Poppy and Alex. I thought the book had promise till Alex was introduced. He came off as boorish, rude, depressed, and with severe anger issues. After he was introduced, Poppy became this immature and shrewish woman who kept doing things that planted her firmly in the too-stupid-to-live category. She had more of a connection with Derek than Alex. Too bad the author went out of her way to pain Derek as some sort of idiot.
From the descriptions, Poppy acting like a detective on the force and Alex's partner continues throughout this series. We are expected to suspend belief when it comes to cozy mysteries and the characters sticking their noses where they don't belong. It's the author's job to make this so interesting that we are willing to believe it. This author failed to do that. In no universe will I ever be able to accept a character calling herself a detective on a case when she's neither of those things.
I won't be reading any more books in this series.
March 26, 2021
OMG! What an awful book. Still not sure why I didn't cast it aside and move on. Poppy, the main character, is to annoying for words (maybe what the author was going for?), the storyline was so shallow. What was the publisher thinking? No wonder it was a free book.
November 25, 2020
Learning the basics
Learning detective work is best done with a professional Poppy learns. Exciting and suspenseful with a strong plot and very surprising conclusion.
Learning detective work is best done with a professional Poppy learns. Exciting and suspenseful with a strong plot and very surprising conclusion.
April 11, 2021
likeable characters, good pace, interesting development of plot and attraction. received as a complimentary review copy from VRO
August 28, 2017
“The Eleventh Hour” earns 5/5 “I Didn't See That Coming” Reactions!
Hearing an early morning police siren may not be alarming to most, but for Sunset Ridge and Poppy McGuire it is not a common occurrence. This small town is an envy where doors often go unlocked, neighbors know each other’s business, and murder hasn’t happened in decades. So when the ‘gossip’ warp-speeds around the community about Geneva Woodward being strangled in her home, everyone is on edge. Poppy is known to have a curious ‘nose,’ a characteristic of her journalistic nature, and her father warned her to steer clear of Police Chief Dominick Hampton. But she knows she can take care of herself, including using Detective Derek Hampton, his younger brother, to gain inside information. Although their theories are not the same, Poppy thinks she can uncover the truth before the police…a challenge? But, will that put her in danger?
I am new to Anina Collins’ Poppy Mcguire Mysteries, but right away, starting with book 1, I liked the style of writing, first-person narrative, and introduction to a delightful and endearing father/daughter dynamic. My favorite setting is a small town with a close-knit community and characters that offer realistic qualities, and Collins delivered. The storyline seems to focus a lot of time on the interactions and banter between Poppy and Alex, former cop, Poppy and her father, and long-time issues between Poppy and the Hampton brothers, but beyond that there were ample clues that fed my inner ’Sherlock.’ But, the ending…gave me a real shock! Anina’s characters seem well defined, developing throughout the story, and their vulnerabilities add realism to the story. I was very engaged in the story, but more engaged with the people…this was a great book.
Hearing an early morning police siren may not be alarming to most, but for Sunset Ridge and Poppy McGuire it is not a common occurrence. This small town is an envy where doors often go unlocked, neighbors know each other’s business, and murder hasn’t happened in decades. So when the ‘gossip’ warp-speeds around the community about Geneva Woodward being strangled in her home, everyone is on edge. Poppy is known to have a curious ‘nose,’ a characteristic of her journalistic nature, and her father warned her to steer clear of Police Chief Dominick Hampton. But she knows she can take care of herself, including using Detective Derek Hampton, his younger brother, to gain inside information. Although their theories are not the same, Poppy thinks she can uncover the truth before the police…a challenge? But, will that put her in danger?
I am new to Anina Collins’ Poppy Mcguire Mysteries, but right away, starting with book 1, I liked the style of writing, first-person narrative, and introduction to a delightful and endearing father/daughter dynamic. My favorite setting is a small town with a close-knit community and characters that offer realistic qualities, and Collins delivered. The storyline seems to focus a lot of time on the interactions and banter between Poppy and Alex, former cop, Poppy and her father, and long-time issues between Poppy and the Hampton brothers, but beyond that there were ample clues that fed my inner ’Sherlock.’ But, the ending…gave me a real shock! Anina’s characters seem well defined, developing throughout the story, and their vulnerabilities add realism to the story. I was very engaged in the story, but more engaged with the people…this was a great book.
March 19, 2018
The Poppy Mcguire Serie…The Eleventh Hour, is a really imaginative mystery that is entertaining and a great beginning to a mystery series. I enjoyed the reading and the tale. The twists and characters seem good and real. I would have enjoyed it even better if it was a bit more polish. Some repetitions and a few extra words here and there slowed down the reading a touch. Still I have a great time reading the Poppy Mcguire Serie…The Eleventh Hour. All and all it is good beginning story for a beginning author. I hope to see more from this author providing the books are a bit more edit Poppy Mcguire is a thirty something single woman living in an old fashion town who frown upon it. She has a nose to find details that the police over look and has a great instinct about people. When the murder of a wealthy woman shakes her sleepy town, everyone looks up to her to find who did it. All is well with the investigation until the past and future collides and she and her new friend are stuck in the middle. Old crushes, new friends and a killer that could be any of them are mingled and crossed through the pages of this tale.
September 21, 2023
The Eleventh Hour is the first book in Poppy McGuire mysteries series by Anina Collins.
I was quite surprised to see the average GR rating of this one when I finished reading the book because I didn't really enjoy it that much.
It is a run of the miss cozy mystery book with a small town, an amateur sleuth, nosy townsfolk and animosity over silly things. However, it lacked the humor and appeal of a good cozy mystery imo. I found the main character, Poppy Mcguire a bit bland. She wasn't much open to considering all aspects of the investigation and enlarging the suspect pool.
Moreover, her partner in crime, the retired detective, one Alex Montero was something of a hot and cold at times. No explanation was provided for his erratic behavior which I am guessing the author has saved for next book in the series, but this made the book feel incomplete to me.
It was a good effort.
2 stars.
I was quite surprised to see the average GR rating of this one when I finished reading the book because I didn't really enjoy it that much.
It is a run of the miss cozy mystery book with a small town, an amateur sleuth, nosy townsfolk and animosity over silly things. However, it lacked the humor and appeal of a good cozy mystery imo. I found the main character, Poppy Mcguire a bit bland. She wasn't much open to considering all aspects of the investigation and enlarging the suspect pool.
Moreover, her partner in crime, the retired detective, one Alex Montero was something of a hot and cold at times. No explanation was provided for his erratic behavior which I am guessing the author has saved for next book in the series, but this made the book feel incomplete to me.
It was a good effort.
2 stars.
September 2, 2025
It's been a long time since Sunset Ridge has had a murder, but the small town is shocked when one of its most prominent citizens is found strangled in her home. Reporter Elizabeth "Poppy" McGuire knows the police have the wrong motive and believes they'll miss catching the villain. With the help of a retired big city cop, Poppy plans to bring the real murderer to justice.
This first in series mystery walked as close to the thriller edge of a cosy as any I've ever seen. That being said, the plot held me, and I could not put the book down. The main character was both feisty and self-assured, and yet managed to have warmth and friendliness to her credit. The ease with which she managed to connect with her partner was breathtaking.
I very much enjoyed the forthright telling of the story and found the plot to be plausible. I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series.
This first in series mystery walked as close to the thriller edge of a cosy as any I've ever seen. That being said, the plot held me, and I could not put the book down. The main character was both feisty and self-assured, and yet managed to have warmth and friendliness to her credit. The ease with which she managed to connect with her partner was breathtaking.
I very much enjoyed the forthright telling of the story and found the plot to be plausible. I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series.
August 30, 2021
Discount download. I wonder why I was coaxed into buying this book? At first I thought it was poorly edited. (Poppy has a strong desire to be a detective in a small town. No reason for this is ever revealed.) By the time I finished it, I was more inclined to think it was OVER-edited. Meaning something like a word or page limit caused a lot of essential information or character development to be chopped. I'm a little stunned to learn there are many more books in this series. I would read more--just to see if they're all this bad.
July 27, 2020
Couldn't finish
The main character may have been the silliest and unappealing I've ever tried to read. I just gave up and decided not to read further it was so unenjoyable.
The main character may have been the silliest and unappealing I've ever tried to read. I just gave up and decided not to read further it was so unenjoyable.
March 1, 2021
The first book in a new series.
Poppy McGuire has a job for a small town paper but her real passion is to investigate stuff. When a prominent lady is found murdered in her home, Poppy being right there, decides she’s going to investigate the murder. Her childhood friend Derek Hampton police officer, makes a wager with her that he will solve the murder before her. She learns of a former police officer who has retired and moved to Sunset Ridge, who she thinks may want to help her investigating this crime. After a few first encounters that go sideways, they agree to work together. Poppy thinks she can learn a lot from Alex Montero and he thinks she has good instincts. As they dig into the lives of the townspeople, they discover this murder appears to have some roots in another place from decades ago. I found this a well written story with little if any errors and the characters interesting. I gave it 5 stars.
Poppy McGuire has a job for a small town paper but her real passion is to investigate stuff. When a prominent lady is found murdered in her home, Poppy being right there, decides she’s going to investigate the murder. Her childhood friend Derek Hampton police officer, makes a wager with her that he will solve the murder before her. She learns of a former police officer who has retired and moved to Sunset Ridge, who she thinks may want to help her investigating this crime. After a few first encounters that go sideways, they agree to work together. Poppy thinks she can learn a lot from Alex Montero and he thinks she has good instincts. As they dig into the lives of the townspeople, they discover this murder appears to have some roots in another place from decades ago. I found this a well written story with little if any errors and the characters interesting. I gave it 5 stars.
January 30, 2021
Lots of likable characters and suspense too once I figured out whodunit. I was pretty sure I knew who it was early on, but once some clues started showing up, I was sure but not about any reasons. I really liked Alex a lot. He was perfect for sleuthing with Poppy, since neither of them had dating expectations. Poppy's dad was great too. Shelly, a neighbor to the woman murdered was some piece of work, and those society ladies were a little hard to keep sorted as far as characters, but the story was strong and compelled me to keep reading. I have the next book, so I'll want to read it at some point.
July 15, 2023
Nice cosy read. Not too predictable and a real comfort read.
April 26, 2020
Totally enjoyed reading this mystery. Totally need more, have to read the entire series.
Can't remember when I had read a book that held my interest the way this one has. It has all the emotions needed to peek one's desire to read more of the series. Anina Collins, author, description of the town, the people who live there, makes you feel like you are part of the community and the mystery. Anina Collins deserves the 5-Star rating and personally can't wait to read all Poppy McGuire series and any of Ms Collins other books.
Can't remember when I had read a book that held my interest the way this one has. It has all the emotions needed to peek one's desire to read more of the series. Anina Collins, author, description of the town, the people who live there, makes you feel like you are part of the community and the mystery. Anina Collins deserves the 5-Star rating and personally can't wait to read all Poppy McGuire series and any of Ms Collins other books.
November 24, 2024
I just can't even believe that I'm reading the same book that everyone is rating here. It took me several months to finish and the only reason I didn't DNF was because it was so appallingly bad I just couldn't look away.
It started off okay. I was thinking the writing was pretty amateur but I was willing to give it a go. But as soon as the "love interest" shows up it all goes steadily downhill. Let's meet Alex:
although he had what appeared like a tiny scar on his cheek, he looked like he could be a model more than a detective. His dark hair was slightly longer than I preferred on men and touched the collar of his white dress shirt, and I saw his body was definitely in great shape, even hidden beneath his clothes....But what struck me were his deep brown eyes and how full of sadness they looked.
Inexplicably the first time Poppy meets Alex he is furiously angry with her and super rude, but there is absolutely no reason for it and it is never broached or explained again. As with most things in this book, it was nonsensical.
The Widow Dunn had apparently decided it was the eleventh hour for this single girl and her chances for happiness.
This one little comment is apparently where the title comes from. It has nothing to do with the story besides the fact that Poppy goes on ad nauseum about how looked down on she is for being over thirty and single.
No, all that mattered was I hadn't found a husband to take care of me. As if it was the 1950s and I needed to be taken care of.
And yes, there is a character referred to as the Widow Dunn. I think it's supposed to be funny and charming but within the context of all the other floof it just comes across as ridiculous.
So Poppy meets this super rude guy and she decides that he is her absolute best choice to solve this murder, which, for some reason, she thinks she needs to solve.
But this being my first case, I needed some help, and I couldn't think of anyone better than a former Baltimore police detective. I just hoped Alexander Montero would be friendlier on our second meeting than he was on our first.
She pops up at Alex's house and he pulls a gun on her. So she still decides to ask him for help while describing how good looking he is again.
He was definitely a good-looking man. I didn't need to spend much time studying him to see that. Dark, thick hair and those delicious brown eyes that told anyone who looked into them that there was a story in his past gave him an exotic feel. With the last name Montero, he was likely Italian or maybe Greek. Sunset Ridge didn't have many citizens with those ethnic backgrounds, which made him stand out even more.
I hope these quotes are giving you a real idea about the quality of writing happening here. And in case you think you're missing out on some scintillating dialogue, let me share a couple samples with you:
I like how forthright you are, Poppy. That kind of frankness is refreshing, so I'll return the favor.
You're different than everyone else I've met in this town. I also know this is the first time you're working with Derek on one of his cases. To be honest, I know why he likes to have you around, but I have to believe you want to work with him on this Geneva Woodward case because you're a detective in your heart and not because you have some secret love for the brother of our police chief.
Poppy, your father isn't a small-town person either. I've spoken to him. It's in him just like it's in you.
I think it's the twenty-first century, and if you want to stay unmarried for the rest of your life, you'd still be head and shoulders above everyone in this town. And for what it's worth, I haven't seen a man in the entire time I've been in Sunset Ridge who was worthy of you.
I know you're all swooning over the angry ex-detective with an "ethnic background" now that you've heard those sweet sweet lines.
Then the author will throw in comments like these. (I'll leave you to make your own opinion.)
So why was the former mayor slamming her like she was some common streetwalker?
"Now there's an old maid. Every cell in her body screams she's going to be single forever," he said in my ear.
"What's new, caribou?"
A freshman at one of the local colleges, he was only nineteen, so every time we let our gazes run all over his very muscular form, we both chided ourselves for it. Well, I chided myself. Bethany not so much....I don't have any mail for you, but maybe next time." I heard Bethany make a tiny moaning sound before she said, "Definitely next time, Jesse."
"You have no idea how much hatred one woman can have for another." "Okay. I won't argue with you on that. As far as I can tell, women hating one another seems to be instinctual in your sex." I held my hands up in front of me. "Don't put that on me. There are many women like me who don't work like that. Candy and Geneva aren't two of them, though."
And let's throw in some examples of "humor."
"I'm sorry. Is it time for the men suck discussion?" She rewarded my joke with a big smile.
"Where would you find a nunnery these days anyway, right? It's just not a job that's around much anymore," I teased, gaining another giggle from her.
Detective. Remember? I couldn't help but smile. For all that seriousness he often showed, he could be quite funny. Texting back, I asked my question again.
"Not really. It looked the same as it always did, except it was on a dead woman." He gave me a tiny smile as a reward for my joke that was probably in poor taste.
The inconsistencies in the story drove me nuts. This is a small one but it really bothered me. In one paragraph Poppy is "inhaling deeply as she always does when entering a library." In the very next paragraph she's saying she hopes the librarian remembers her because she hadn't "seen her in years." She loves libraries but apparently never goes in them.
At one point Alex and Poppy are suddenly screaming at each other for no reason because of detectives going off half-baked after a theory, though the theory Poppy had was actually not bad. And then suddenly they switch and are yelling about Alex's dead wife. None of if made any sense.
Whatever he was dealing with, he was putting his issues onto our murder case and muddling it because he couldn't separate his past from the present.
Let's not forget the morning Poppy woke up to a "hat trick of misery."
Also some super weird relationship going on with Poppy and her father.
Nuzzling his unshaven neck like I did when I was a child, I tried to make him see why I had to do this.
And where would we be without the dramatic ending?
My favorite part of this book was the author's note at the end. She seems like a fun person. I can admire her for going after her dream and I know it takes work to write a book and I'm glad for her sake that so many people seem to love this series. I will, obviously, not be reading any more.
It started off okay. I was thinking the writing was pretty amateur but I was willing to give it a go. But as soon as the "love interest" shows up it all goes steadily downhill. Let's meet Alex:
although he had what appeared like a tiny scar on his cheek, he looked like he could be a model more than a detective. His dark hair was slightly longer than I preferred on men and touched the collar of his white dress shirt, and I saw his body was definitely in great shape, even hidden beneath his clothes....But what struck me were his deep brown eyes and how full of sadness they looked.
Inexplicably the first time Poppy meets Alex he is furiously angry with her and super rude, but there is absolutely no reason for it and it is never broached or explained again. As with most things in this book, it was nonsensical.
The Widow Dunn had apparently decided it was the eleventh hour for this single girl and her chances for happiness.
This one little comment is apparently where the title comes from. It has nothing to do with the story besides the fact that Poppy goes on ad nauseum about how looked down on she is for being over thirty and single.
No, all that mattered was I hadn't found a husband to take care of me. As if it was the 1950s and I needed to be taken care of.
And yes, there is a character referred to as the Widow Dunn. I think it's supposed to be funny and charming but within the context of all the other floof it just comes across as ridiculous.
So Poppy meets this super rude guy and she decides that he is her absolute best choice to solve this murder, which, for some reason, she thinks she needs to solve.
But this being my first case, I needed some help, and I couldn't think of anyone better than a former Baltimore police detective. I just hoped Alexander Montero would be friendlier on our second meeting than he was on our first.
She pops up at Alex's house and he pulls a gun on her. So she still decides to ask him for help while describing how good looking he is again.
He was definitely a good-looking man. I didn't need to spend much time studying him to see that. Dark, thick hair and those delicious brown eyes that told anyone who looked into them that there was a story in his past gave him an exotic feel. With the last name Montero, he was likely Italian or maybe Greek. Sunset Ridge didn't have many citizens with those ethnic backgrounds, which made him stand out even more.
I hope these quotes are giving you a real idea about the quality of writing happening here. And in case you think you're missing out on some scintillating dialogue, let me share a couple samples with you:
I like how forthright you are, Poppy. That kind of frankness is refreshing, so I'll return the favor.
You're different than everyone else I've met in this town. I also know this is the first time you're working with Derek on one of his cases. To be honest, I know why he likes to have you around, but I have to believe you want to work with him on this Geneva Woodward case because you're a detective in your heart and not because you have some secret love for the brother of our police chief.
Poppy, your father isn't a small-town person either. I've spoken to him. It's in him just like it's in you.
I think it's the twenty-first century, and if you want to stay unmarried for the rest of your life, you'd still be head and shoulders above everyone in this town. And for what it's worth, I haven't seen a man in the entire time I've been in Sunset Ridge who was worthy of you.
I know you're all swooning over the angry ex-detective with an "ethnic background" now that you've heard those sweet sweet lines.
Then the author will throw in comments like these. (I'll leave you to make your own opinion.)
So why was the former mayor slamming her like she was some common streetwalker?
"Now there's an old maid. Every cell in her body screams she's going to be single forever," he said in my ear.
"What's new, caribou?"
A freshman at one of the local colleges, he was only nineteen, so every time we let our gazes run all over his very muscular form, we both chided ourselves for it. Well, I chided myself. Bethany not so much....I don't have any mail for you, but maybe next time." I heard Bethany make a tiny moaning sound before she said, "Definitely next time, Jesse."
"You have no idea how much hatred one woman can have for another." "Okay. I won't argue with you on that. As far as I can tell, women hating one another seems to be instinctual in your sex." I held my hands up in front of me. "Don't put that on me. There are many women like me who don't work like that. Candy and Geneva aren't two of them, though."
And let's throw in some examples of "humor."
"I'm sorry. Is it time for the men suck discussion?" She rewarded my joke with a big smile.
"Where would you find a nunnery these days anyway, right? It's just not a job that's around much anymore," I teased, gaining another giggle from her.
Detective. Remember? I couldn't help but smile. For all that seriousness he often showed, he could be quite funny. Texting back, I asked my question again.
"Not really. It looked the same as it always did, except it was on a dead woman." He gave me a tiny smile as a reward for my joke that was probably in poor taste.
The inconsistencies in the story drove me nuts. This is a small one but it really bothered me. In one paragraph Poppy is "inhaling deeply as she always does when entering a library." In the very next paragraph she's saying she hopes the librarian remembers her because she hadn't "seen her in years." She loves libraries but apparently never goes in them.
At one point Alex and Poppy are suddenly screaming at each other for no reason because of detectives going off half-baked after a theory, though the theory Poppy had was actually not bad. And then suddenly they switch and are yelling about Alex's dead wife. None of if made any sense.
Whatever he was dealing with, he was putting his issues onto our murder case and muddling it because he couldn't separate his past from the present.
Let's not forget the morning Poppy woke up to a "hat trick of misery."
Also some super weird relationship going on with Poppy and her father.
Nuzzling his unshaven neck like I did when I was a child, I tried to make him see why I had to do this.
And where would we be without the dramatic ending?
My favorite part of this book was the author's note at the end. She seems like a fun person. I can admire her for going after her dream and I know it takes work to write a book and I'm glad for her sake that so many people seem to love this series. I will, obviously, not be reading any more.
October 26, 2022
I get that all the authors want a smart and strong willed heroine.
But, in this book I just started; it was absurd.
Yes, the heroine is smart.
But that's not a mean feat when she makes all the police stupid.
One who is a few years younger than her has "Always had a crush on me".
The other: is the supposed main investigator in the story.
He's telling her (a crime investigative reporter) every aspect of the crime without thought, also without any facts as the medical examiner had just arrived.
Oh yea, he's hitting on her and flirting while standing just in front of the body at the crime scene.
Done with this one.
I'm not even through the first chapter yet.
I won't be reading any further.
But, in this book I just started; it was absurd.
Yes, the heroine is smart.
But that's not a mean feat when she makes all the police stupid.
One who is a few years younger than her has "Always had a crush on me".
The other: is the supposed main investigator in the story.
He's telling her (a crime investigative reporter) every aspect of the crime without thought, also without any facts as the medical examiner had just arrived.
Oh yea, he's hitting on her and flirting while standing just in front of the body at the crime scene.
Done with this one.
I'm not even through the first chapter yet.
I won't be reading any further.
February 9, 2023
I didn't like the writing style so much. The twist was OK. Bruh. Poppy and Alex were kinda cute but nothing exciting and cringey at times. Many things just didn't seem "real", i felt like someone was shitting on me. ???. Really disappointed as i spent hours and hours basically trying too hard to finish it and man... i wish i had let go of it. One star for the plot which was 5/10 and the other star for a couple of funny moments. I hate myself for saying this, but deadass, Detective PoPpy??? What kind of name is this lol. Quite of me to say this, but i had to. Also, Poppy was quite immature for her age. Ugh. Waste of time or maybe the book just was NOT for me.
May 21, 2020
I tried, I really did. Maybe I will try again in the future, but I doubt it. The writing put me off what I assume would have been an otherwise wonderful read.
So many sentences were crammed with too much information when it would have been far more effective to split it up. Some of the sentences were far too awkward for me.
I'm glad others seemed to have enjoyed this book. Sadly, it just didn't do it for me.
So many sentences were crammed with too much information when it would have been far more effective to split it up. Some of the sentences were far too awkward for me.
I'm glad others seemed to have enjoyed this book. Sadly, it just didn't do it for me.
July 18, 2024
A total surprise ending!
I can’t believe how the murder was solved and who the guilty party was. The beginning part of the story could have used a little more padding. Suddenly the guilty party was revealed when he or she wasn’t even fleshed out in the beginning chapters of the book . There was no character development. I was left scratching my head when the the killer was revealed, going “who?” “what?”
I can’t believe how the murder was solved and who the guilty party was. The beginning part of the story could have used a little more padding. Suddenly the guilty party was revealed when he or she wasn’t even fleshed out in the beginning chapters of the book . There was no character development. I was left scratching my head when the the killer was revealed, going “who?” “what?”
December 10, 2019
There is absolutely nothing I find more frustrating in a book than errors. Spelling errors, grammar errors and complete words missing from sentences. This book is rife with them. Unfortunately it makes the story, no matter the quality, forgettable.
I will not be continuing with this author or the series.
I will not be continuing with this author or the series.
June 22, 2018
There has been a murder in the small town of Sunset Ridge. Poppy McGuire believing that she is more intelligent that the police decides to investigate with the help of a retired Baltimore detective.
Couldn't take to the characters especially Poppy but as I finished the book it gets 2 stars.
Couldn't take to the characters especially Poppy but as I finished the book it gets 2 stars.
June 29, 2021
No way, Jose
This book is a cozy mystery wannabe. It comes up short in oh so many ways: Poor writing, poor editing not catching grammatical or spelling errors. The characters are improbable and one dimensional. If you pay for this book you are getting ripped off.
This book is a cozy mystery wannabe. It comes up short in oh so many ways: Poor writing, poor editing not catching grammatical or spelling errors. The characters are improbable and one dimensional. If you pay for this book you are getting ripped off.
August 19, 2020
DNF @30% Just couldn't get into this. The writing was really, not good, quite bad. Too many things just didn't read well.
February 16, 2022
Written like a youth fiction but with topics like sex... not great writing. Poor character development. Lots of loose ends.
March 9, 2021
An okay book. I'm afraid that I certainly wouldn't want to live in Sunset Ridge where the women's attitudes seem to be stuck in the 1950s and 1960s in that anyone who is single and in their early 30s is definitely on the shelf and that any boyfriend, even the cheating untrustful ones, is better than no boyfriend. Which is a problem with a small town/village cosy crime story because half their charm comes from wanting to live there. Another problem is the lack of likeable people apart from the heroine's father, the local policeman and the ex-Baltimore cop. I didn't find the heroine particularly likeable to start with as she took an almost ghoulish delight in the murder because it would enable her to do an investigation, her first. Even if the victime wasn't likeable, what a surprise, the heroine seemed to forget that it was murder. Then there was her attitude to the ex-Baltimore cop and her assumption that he would be eager to assist her in her investigations. However, she did grow on me after the second murder when she realised it wasn't just a game and felt guilty that she may have been the cause of that murder.
xxxxSpoiler alert so ofxxxx
The main problem with the book, apart from the setting, was that it was glaringly obvious what type of person the killer was. And also, unless a kitchen island means something different in the US than it does in the UK, there was a major issue with editing. In the final showdown the heroine is thrown into the ex-Baltimore cop and the only reason you realise that she must have knocked him down is because it's then mentioned she looks down at him. But after someone draws a gun on the villain and is standing behind him, the ex-Baltimore cop is standing in front of him and the heroine is described as having taken cover behind the kitchen island the next thing you know the villain is pointing the gun at her presumably having got past the ex-Baltimore cop and not having been stopped from moving by the third man!! So only a 3 from me.
xxxxSpoiler alert so ofxxxx
The main problem with the book, apart from the setting, was that it was glaringly obvious what type of person the killer was. And also, unless a kitchen island means something different in the US than it does in the UK, there was a major issue with editing. In the final showdown the heroine is thrown into the ex-Baltimore cop and the only reason you realise that she must have knocked him down is because it's then mentioned she looks down at him. But after someone draws a gun on the villain and is standing behind him, the ex-Baltimore cop is standing in front of him and the heroine is described as having taken cover behind the kitchen island the next thing you know the villain is pointing the gun at her presumably having got past the ex-Baltimore cop and not having been stopped from moving by the third man!! So only a 3 from me.
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